CULTURE: Estonian art classics at Tallinn Bus Station

The Art Museum of Estonia and Tallinn Bus Station have installed reproductions of Estonian art classics on six large-scale displays on the station’s bus platforms. The exhibition features beloved masterpieces by Kristjan Raud, Eduard Wiiralt, Konrad Mägi, Nikolai Triik, Enn Põldroos, and Elmar Kits, offering moments of recognition and nostalgia for every Estonian.

As a result of the long-term collaboration between the Art Museum of Estonia and Tallinn Bus Station (T grupp OÜ), reproductions of famous Estonian artworks have been displayed in the waiting areas of Tallinn, Tartu, and Rakvere bus stations for several years. This year, to mark the 60th anniversary of Tallinn Bus Station and the 105th anniversary of the Art Museum of Estonia, the exhibition expands outdoors to the open-air platforms, bringing even more beauty to everyday travel and enriching public space through art.

“We are thrilled to collaborate with Tallinn Bus Station to bring Estonian art classics into people’s everyday routes. In this Song Celebration year, it is significant to showcase Enn Põldroos’ “Pidulised” (1975), which depicts thousands of people gathered in a moment of unity, much like at the Song Festival. May this serve as inspiration for museum visits, festive gatherings, or simply a beautiful bus journey,” said Piret Järvan, Head of Marketing and Services at the Art Museum of Estonia.

According to Kadriann Raud, Head of Marketing and Communications at Tallinn Bus Station, the station has been a gateway to the Song and Dance Festival for 60 years. “Celebrating this longstanding role is especially important during this anniversary year as we mark the station’s 60th birthday. As part of our collaboration with the Art Museum of Estonia and the Song and Dance Celebration, we have also brought art to our outdoor platforms. This is the first step in a broader anniversary project designed to offer something truly special for our visitors and to mark this milestone with the recognition it deserves,” said Raud.

The exhibition presents a rare opportunity to view Estonian art classics on a large scale and examine every detail up close. Most of the original works are housed in the permanent exhibition at the Kumu Art Museum.

Following a successful initial collaboration with T grupp OÜ in 2021, which featured a display inspired by the works of sculptor Christian Ackermann in the station’s waiting area, the project has continued with a series of exhibitions at Tallinn, Tartu, and Rakvere bus stations. These displays have featured themes such as travel, landscapes, local artists, and iconic places.

See more from the news portal Postimees! (The article is in Estonian.)